A cross section of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, yesterday, asked the Imo State House of Assembly to withdraw proposed anti-media law from the Assembly and not on the pages of newspapers and radio stations.

Mr. Emeka Ononamadu of Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, CCIDESOR, stated this while fielding questions from Vanguard in Owerri. Reacting to what he described as an unofficial withdrawal of the bill by the sponsor, Mr. Ugonna Ozuruigbo, who is the Deputy Speaker of House, Ononamadu said it was unacceptable to them that the bill was withdrawn by a mere statement.

He also argued that until the deputy speaker, withdrew the bill from the House, the CSOs would continue to criticize the House of Assembly. He said: “ Your career is at stake, your livelihood is at stake, your profession is at stake. The danger is not passing this law but the mentality of this law. Tyranny grows where the press is gagged. I call this bill, anti-citizens bill, because communities must seek approval before a newsletter is published. “You do not withdraw a bill on the pages of newspapers, radio stations, but at the floor of the House. We want to advise that the mass media must be vigilant in assessing the situation”.